We don't get it...

As I read through the New Testament during Lent, I'm in the book of Matthew now.  It seems that everything Jesus says is contrary to normal thinking.

• People in bad shape are blessed. (5:3-10)
• Don't resist an evil person. (5:39)
• Love your enemies. (5:44)
• Don't worry about your needs. (6:25)
• Lepers are healed. (8:3)
• God's Son has no house to live in. (8:20)
• Jesus came not to bring peace, but a sword. (10:34)
• To find your life, you have to lose it. (10:39)

This life to which Jesus calls us is way different from normal life.  Its power comes from heaven, not earth.  Its perspective is God's not man's.  It makes no sense in the earthly scheme of things.

So Jesus tells us that we don't really get it, when it comes to this business of life.  We naturally seek the wrong things.  We naturally protect ourselves.  We naturally try to impress others.  We naturally accumulate stuff.

But real life comes through trusting God, not just for eternal salvation, but for the necessities of life, our safety, and our reputations.  We can trust God with it all, through Jesus.

Only through his power can we live this way.  And through his power, we can.

Focus on the Father

Before Jesus began his ministry, he went into the wilderness where he was tempted by the devil.  He had been fasting for 40 days, spending time with the Father.  Then the devil shows up.  But Jesus was ready.  He was ready for spiritual battle.


So, in the 40 days of Lent, we are preparing for spiritual battle.  We practice self denial, so that we can focus on the Father. 


Celebrating Easter is richer when we're ready.

Not so Sweet

To experience Lent, I have decided to give up desserts.  I may even give up sweets entirely until Easter.  I have been learning that sugar may actually be addictive, and this seems like a good time to break the addiction.  And it will be a sacrifice.  I do like sweets.

Notice that I did give myself an out.  If I wait an hour or so after a meal, then it's not technically dessert, right?  Sometimes I wish I were not so good at rationalizations.

My wife just offered me a Reese's Cup.  Yeah, I'll have one.
 My last one for a while.

Leaning into Lent

The season of preparation for Easter begins this week with Ash Wednesday on March 5.  I don't always dive into Lent, but I see the importance of spiritual disciplines more clearly now than ever.  This is a good occasion to open myself up to all that God wants to show me, about himself and about myself.  I'm praying for God to show me how to celebrate.  What will I give up for Lent?

Traditionally, Christians have celebrated 40 days prior to Easter in a season known as Lent.  The term "lent" comes from the German word for "long," as the days become longer in the spring.  The 40-day period does not include Sundays, so the Lenten season is actually 46 days long, including Easter Sunday.

At Ash Wednesday services, some believers have ashes smeared onto their foreheads in the shape of a cross.  The ashes represent repentance, harkening back to biblical repentance "in sackcloth and ashes." 

There were intervals of fasting in the early Lenten practices.  Today as part of the Lenten season, believers will often choose to sacrifice something, whether it is food or something else.  The sacrifice reminds us of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for our sins, and our surrender to him opens us to the work of God in our lives.

Some may choose to forgo eating on every Friday (or other day) during Lent. 

Here are a few other suggestions of things you may consider giving up for lent:

• Social media
• Dessert
• Television
• Chocolate
• Soda
• Alcohol
• Fast food
• Shopping
• Snack foods
• Coffee
• Bread
• Texting
• Movies

The point is to do something with your body that draws you closer to Jesus.  You may start a habit you keep forever!

Lego Movie Review

Oh snap!  This is a fun movie.  I don't write many movie reviews, so I will try not to spoil anything.  Here's what I like about the Lego Movie:

• It's fast moving.  It's a toy version of an action movie.
• It's witty.  There are a lot of clever plays on words, with humor for adults and kids.
• It's ironic.  The dialogue and the action kept me guessing all the way through.  I did not see that coming... 
• It has a great script.  It all fits together and makes sense.  The toy characters actually develop.
• It has a good message.  People are by nature creative.  That's worth celebrating. 
• The voices are good.  I can't imagine acting for an animated creature, but these actors pull it off.

And I had a really good date, too, so that makes everything good.

Power in Pain

Somehow God uses all the pain in our lives--when we let him--to create something beautiful.  When we gather for worship, as we lay our heartaches and struggles before the Lord, he gathers up all that gunk, and through the cross, he redeems it.  He shows us his strength.  He brings glory to himself.  He shares his goodness with us.  And with his goodness comes healing, meaning, purpose and hope.

Not only is God good--he is better than we think.

Crystallized Peace

It began to snow at my house about 1 p.m. today.  They say we may get over 8 inches.

Now I sit in my house, reading, writing, watching, praying.  Through every window, I watch powdered peace falling.  I am privileged beyond measure.  I have had today's meetings, fetched the last necessities, and now I sit in peace.

God chose to make precipitation beautiful.  Thanks be to God.  When these rare snows arrive, life's busyness comes to a halt.  No one expects anyone to go anywhere or do anything.

We can take a deep breath and just be.  We have permission to be still.  We have time to listen.  We remember that there are things--however few--over which we have absolutely no control.  Through nature, God puts us in our place.

Be still and know that he is God.